Hinge.



W. F. TROUTMAN.

HINGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. I914- L lQfilfio Patented May 18, 1915.

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HINGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1915.

Application filed March 24, 1914. Serial No. 826,999.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM FRANKLIN TROUTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Nelson and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hinges, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hinge structures, and particularly to hinge structures for gates of the swinging type; and it has for its primary object the provision of a device of this character which will be simple in construction and of a form whereby it may be readily connected with the gate and which will also serve as a means for effecting an automatic closing of the gate.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hinge structure of this character which will be provided with means for cooperatively receiving a portion of a gate and serving therewith to hold the gate in an opened position.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a front view of a gate, showing the application of the hinge structure thereto; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the lower element of the hinge structure.

The gate 1 herein illustrated is of the usual form excepting at its end adjacent the supporting post B where it is preferred to provide a substantially cylindrical rod or bar C to which the longitudinal branches D and E of the gate are connected. The rod C lies parallel to the gate and adjacent to its lower end it is provided with a pin 2 on which a roller 3 is mounted to freely revolve.

In order that a mounting may be provided whereby the gate will be automatically closed and further the construction of means which will serve to cause the gate to move in a vertical direction as it is opened so that the gate will freely pass over obstructions or inequalities of the roadway, use is made of superposed substantially identical elements 4: and 5 of a hinge structure. These elements are each formed of a rod of iron bent at one end to form a substantially spiral or cam portion 6 and a longitudinal horizontal branch 7 the latter being extended through a corresponding passage 8 in the post B and it is provided with a thread 8 on which nuts 9 and 10 are adjustably mounted and adapted to bear respectively against the opposite sides of the post B, as will be understood. This arrangement is preferred in order that both elements of the hinge structure may be brought into proper vertical alinement and also in order that the gate may be adjusted in a horizontal direction to a slight extent or to a suflicient extent to permit the latch end of the gate to be properly engaged at all times with the keeper on the post A The free portion of the convolution 11 of each element is disposed directly above and in spaced relation to the longitudinal or horizontal branch of the element for a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the bar C of the gate so that the bar may be freely passed into the convolute or spiral portion of the hinge element, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In order that the gate may be elevated as it moves to open position, and further, with a view to effecting a gravitational closing of the gate I arrange the roller 3 of the pin 2 directly above the convolute or spiral portion of the lower element of the hinge so that the roller is arranged to freely ride thereover. The inclination of the convolute of the spiral portion of said element is such that under usual conditions the gate will freely gravitate to a closed position, causing the latch of the gate to engage with the receiving keeper on the post A. It is sometimes preferred to hold the gate in an open position and in order that this may be done in a simple manner it is found that by forming a notch 12 in the convolution of the lower hinge element and arranging said notch in the direct path of movement of the roller 3, the latter will be made to engage therein when the gate is moved to a position slightly beyond a rightangle from its normal position.

This arrangement is extremely desirable where the gate is used over roadways as the arrangement permits one to readily drive a team past the gate without necessitating the holding of the gate by the hand.

I claim The combination with a swinging gate tions receiving the vertical rod'of the gate,

a roller carried by the vertical rod of the gate and traveling over the spiral por tion of one of said hinge elements, the said hingeel'ement' having a notch in its spiral portion for receiving the roller on one 16 adjusted position of the gate so as to hold the gate'against closing movement. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWO Witnesses.

v WILLIE FRANK TROUTMAN.

"Witnesses:

E. R. CROWE,

E. H. TROUTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. i 

